Postal worker didn't put the outgoing mail flag down

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
Yesterday I had mail to be picked up and put the mailbox flag up. I kept looking out to see if it had been picked up. It got to be 4 pm and the flag was still up. I went out and looked in the mailbox and the item was gone, so it had been picked up, but the flag was still up. Anyone else have this happen if you have a roadside mailbox?
 

debodun said:
Yesterday I had mail to be picked up and put the mailbox flag up. I kept looking out to see if it had been picked up. It got to be 4 pm and the flag was still up. I went out and looked in the mailbox and the item was gone, so it had been picked up, but the flag was still up. Anyone else have this happen if you have a roadside mailbox?
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tell me something please... Obviosly 've seen those mailboxes in the USA.. but I've never been able to figure out how it works. You say that you put the flag up to let the mailman know to take the mail.. is it stamped already ?.. and also what stops thieves from accessing your mailbox ?
 
Outgoing mail would have to be stamped for a rural mail carrier to pick it up, otherwise the sender would have to go to the post office to buy a stamp. Here, it's illegal for anyone but the homeowner to access a street-side mailbox, but that isn't a deterrent for everyone, I admit. There's been a rash of reported mailbox thefts recently around here. That's why I've applied for direct deposit for my pension checks even though the neighbors in my new neighborhood seem pretty honest and law abiding. Anyone can schlep or drive around and peek in mailboxes. - they know when most people get SSI or pension checks and this time of year there may be holiday cards with money or gift cards inside.

Christmas Mailbox.gif
 
I'll put up the flag when there is mail to be picked up.
And, the postman/lady will leave it up to indicate to me that I have mail waiting to be retrieved.


eta: now today, the mailperson didn't leave the flag up telling me I had mail.
Sometimes they just want me to guess...... :)
 
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hollydolly said:
tell me something please... Obviosly 've seen those mailboxes in the USA.. but I've never been able to figure out how it works. You say that you put the flag up to let the mailman know to take the mail.. is it stamped already ?.. and also what stops thieves from accessing your mailbox ?
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I'd never leave mail in the mailbox for pickup. Especially mail that has credit card into. Mail theft is common. But I suppose people who haven't yet been a victim wouldn't be concerned.
 
debodun said:
Outgoing mail would have to be stamped for a rural mail carrier to pick it up, otherwise the sender would have to go to the post office to buy a stamp. Here, it's illegal for anyone but the homeowner to access a street-side mailbox, but that isn't a deterrent for everyone, I admit. There's been a rash of reported mailbox thefts recently around here. That's why I've applied for direct deposit for my pension checks even though the neighbors in my new neighborhood seem pretty honest and law abiding. Anyone can schlep or drive around and peek in mailboxes. - they know when most people get SSI or pension checks and this time of year there may be holiday cards with money or gift cards inside.

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isn't that like saying, you can leave your door unlocked because it's illegal for someone to break into your house ? :unsure:...
 
The carrier we had before this one almost never put the flag back down; the current carrier only forgets (or doesn't bother!) to put it back down once in a while; progress, I guess.
 
I never put the flag up - our mailbox has a clip on the inside of the door that will hold mail - even business size envelopes. When I have mail to be picked up I put it there so when he opens the mailbox to put mail in, he sees it and can pick it up. I almost never fail to get some mail, so getting out-going mail picked up is rarely a problem. I also scoot out and pick up delivered mail right away. Mail theft around here does happen, so I'm really careful.
 
I shelled out $110 for a PMB (Private Mail Box) up north 20 miles. They've never lost a package, nor letter, even get someones mail too at times.

The ladies are always courteous and helpful. I don't go often, but slipping a $20 in their jar makes me feel better.

When I get a subsidized apartment, I'm debating whether it's not better to keep them instead of using my apartment mailbox.

After all. It's not even $10 a month right now.
 
I found out that the flag on our mailbox was falling down after I had put it up and didn't notice that and the carrier wouldn't pick up the outgoing mail; he just tossed any incoming mail on top of it. When I went in to the post office to complain, they told me that the carrier didn't have to pick it up if the flag wasn't up. So had to get flag fixed.
 
I think I'd do a little research on that issue. Is that a national post office "rule" - local or just one thought up on the fly? I personally never heard of such a "rule". Has anyone else?
 
Disgustedman said:
I shelled out $110 for a PMB (Private Mail Box) up north 20 miles. They've never lost a package, nor letter, even get someones mail too at times.

The ladies are always courteous and helpful. I don't go often, but slipping a $20 in their jar makes me feel better.

When I get a subsidized apartment, I'm debating whether it's not better to keep them instead of using my apartment mailbox.

After all. It's not even $10 a month right now.
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I wish those priv. mail box places weren't so far away from us; the one that I go to once in a while is great; it's run by a couple of sisters who are so helpful and they carry some gifts, too, just a really nice store. (But they probably don't have any available boxes anyway; even before the Camp Fire, mailboxes, both at the U.S. Post Office and at the private places, were hard to get, now it's practically impossible.)
 
When I took my ambles around my new neighborhood, I was surprised, nay amazed, at how many roadside mailboxes didn't have doors or the homeowners didn't bother to close them. I would worry rain or wind would affect the contents or people would see if and how much mail was in them.
 
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